Owner Ron Greene is photographed in The King’s Mills General Store and Christmas Shop on Monday, December 16, 2013. Owners Ron and Mary Greene are celebrating the shop’s 30th anniversary this year. The Enquirer/Leigh Taylor

For one Kings Mills store, Christmas isn’t just a day in December. It’s a state of mind.

That’s the motto of Ron and Mary Greene, who run the Kings Mills General Store and Christmas Shop at the corner of Wilson and Columbia roads. The business is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

• Photos: Every day is Christmas for Kings Mills shop-0wners

While the official headquarters of Christmas is probably up north, the Greenes do their best to compete.

Owner Mary Greene helps Scott and Kathy Rosenow (cq), from Fairfield Township, find an ornament at The King’s Mills General Store and Christmas Shop on Monday, December 16, 2013. The Enquirer/Leigh Taylor

The 3,000-square-foot white clapboard house features thousands of Christmas ornaments and trimmings from floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall. Even the shop’s bathroom doubles as storage space.

From Santas to nutcrackers, the shop features a variety of ornaments to suit every taste — no matter how eclectic.

Looking for green glass Christmas pickle ornaments? You’ll find them here. Spongebob and Elvis? They’re there, too, alongside rows of sports- and pet-themed trinkets and baubles with military, nature and Western motifs.

“We try to literally have something for everybody,” said Mary. “There’s no place in the whole Tristate area that has the selection we do.”

Ornaments range from $2 to more than $200 for exclusive lines like hand-painted Patricia Breen glass ornaments, which are sold in less than 20 stores nationwide and have a wait list. Most items are under $10, said Ron.

For the Greenes, the most magical time of the year begins in mid-April when the shop opens. November and December are the shop’s busiest months, but Augusts ranks a close third thanks to tourists visiting nearby Kings Island and Great Wolf Lodge.

Ron got the idea for the shop after working in his uncle’s Christmas Shop and Island Art Gallery in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

It was there, in 1977, that he met Mary at a picnic on the beach. Emboldened, Ron asked the attractive West Side native to dinner.

“I’m a nice Catholic girl from Cincinnati. I wouldn’t have gone off with him if I hadn’t been going to the Christmas Shop for six years,” remembered Mary with a laugh.

Christmas ornaments at The King’s Mills General Store and Christmas Shop. The Enquirer/Leigh Taylor

When Mary returned to Cincinnati, Ron followed. The couple celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary Dec. 9.

In September 1983, the couple purchased the Kings Mills General Store and began selling general gifts and holiday items.

The building, which had operated as a general store from the early 1920s, featured the warm and nostalgic ambiance the Greenes had been looking for.

The couple fixed up the deteriorating building and spent years searching for the antique cabinets and pieces upon which to display their trove of Christmas treasures.

“We wanted to make it safe, but we also wanted to keep the creaking floors,” said Ron. “There’s just something about being in a nearly 100-year-old building that’s kind of neat.

Thirty years later, the shop has become a retail attraction for tourists and a holiday tradition for locals.

“We have people who say they’ve been here with their parents and now they’re bringing their kids,” said Mary. “Once you come here, it becomes a destination.”

For Ron, 73, and Mary, 65, theirs is a business that’s all about spreading cheer and making spirits bright.

“It’s a pleasant atmosphere,” said Ron. “People come in here and even if they’re not so wonderfully happy when they walk in, you can’t help but feel lighter. It’s a feel-good place.”

If you go

Kings Mills General Store and Christmas Shop is at 5687 Columbia Road, Kings Mills. Contact: 513-398-1677; www.kingschristmas.com.

A man died in a fire in this Mason condominium on Country Ridge Drive early Monday morning. / Jennifer Edwards Baker / The Enquirer

Jennifer Edwards Baker reports:

A man died after fire ripped through a Mason condominium early today, fire officials said.

Crews were called to 5230 W. Country Ridge Drive just before 2 a.m.

When they arrived, they found heavy flames shooting from the back of the first and second floors, said Lt. Tom Wentzel.

The victim was found on the first floor. His name and age were not released.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office are on scene, assisting Mason firefighters.

Initially, there was a report that a small explosion sparked the fire. The explosion, if there was one, occurred before fire crews arrived, Wentzel said.

The condo is destroyed. A damage estimate was not available.

Neighbors in an adjacent condo were displaced. Their unit suffered smoke damage, Wentzel said. He did not know how many people in that unit were impacted.

One of the victim’s relatives declined comment at the scene.

Neighbors said they were advised by authorities not to talk to the media until Tuesday.

The Enquirer will update this story.

Holiday shoppers at the Deerfield Towne Center. File photo

Deerfield Towne Center, one of Greater Cincinnati’s premier shopping destinations, sold this week for $97 million.

Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust Thursday announced its purchase of the 461,000-square-foot open-air shopping center at the intersection of Mason-Montgomery and Irwin Simpson roads.

The Farmington Hills, Mich.-based company owns and manages 79 shopping centers nationwide. The Deerfield Towne Center is one of 17 shopping centers purchased by the company this year for $567 million.

The 45-acre open-air market built in 2004 is anchored by one of only two Whole Food Markets in Greater Cincinnati, along with retail powerhouses Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bed, Bath & Beyond and the 16-screen Regal Cinema.

The “lifestyle center,” which is 92 percent leased, also includes dozens of upscale apparel stores, specialty retailers and eateries.

“Cincinnati/Mason is a robust market where we expect to see continued strong growth in population and business over the next several years,” Dennis Gershenson, president and CEO, said in a press release. “Combined with our Columbus properties, Deerfield Town Center provides a substantial foothold in a very attractive market.”

Developed by Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate, which also developed Rookwood Commons, Deerfield Towne Center was among the first to deliver chic shopping to northern Cincinnati’s affluent suburbs.

The shopping center serves a demographic mix of about 225,000 households that boast an average income of $99,000, according to Ramco-Gershenson.

The thriving two-mile retail corridor along Mason-Montgomery Road is one of Warren County’s most explosive commercial growth spots. About 32,000 cars travel the stretch daily.

Traffic generated from the shopping center contributes to more than 80,000 vehicles that travel each day through the nearby Fields Ertel/Mason-Montgomery interchange off Interstate 71.

County officials broke ground there earlier this week on a new loop ramp project expected to reduce traffic flow in the area by as much as 50 percent.

The project ranks among the top five most important transportation projects in Greater Cincinnati, said Warren County Commissioner Dave Young.

Clubhouse at Palmera Apartments in Deerfield Township. Provided

Crews from Lifetime Television’s “Designing Spaces” show will be filming in Deerfield Township today.

The home improvement show will be filming this morning and afternoon at Hills Properties’ Palmera Apartments for a segment on apartment living, said Maria Lashells, Hills’ marketing manager.

Interior shot of a model unit at Palmera Apartments in Deerfield Township. Provided

Hills completed construction on the $36 million, 360-unit gated apartment community in September 2012. In June, the National Apartment Association named the upscale development the Apartment Community of the Year.

The complex features luxury one, two and three bedroom apartments with high-end finishes in a wooded setting. Other amenities will include a 7,000-square-foot clubhouse, swimming pool, health and wellness center, tennis courts, pet-friendly walking trails and an outdoor fireplace and lounge area.

Palmera has a wait list of about 70 prospective residents for units that average about $1,000 a month, said Lashells.

The complex was one of four nationwide recommended for filming by the NAA, she said.

“It’s big not just for Hills, but because they’re spotlighting a community in the Midwest,” said Lashells. “I think it puts Cincinnati and Mason on the map.”

Show producers say the segment is expected to air on Lifetime TV at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 and re-air Feb. 20, but add these dates could be subject to change.

By Jennifer Trepal, City of Mason Public Information Officer

City of Mason offices will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. Offices will be open with limited services on Christmas Eve.

Mason residents who receive trash collection service on Wednesday through Friday will have their collection delayed one day for both weeks. Friday customers will have their trash picked up on Saturday.

Mason Community Center will be open from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31. On Christmas, the fitness center, gymnasium, track, and locker rooms at Mason Community Center will be open from noon to 4 p.m. There will be no scheduled activities on Dec. 25. On New Year’s Day, all areas of the center will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Mason City Council meeting scheduled for Dec. 23 has been cancelled. The next regularly scheduled meeting of Council is at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13.

Brush pickup, including Christmas trees, will begin the week of Monday, Jan. 13. Please remove all decorations from the tree and place it at the curb with the cut end toward the street.

Mason Schools this week honored the district’s first alumni to be named a Rhodes Scholar.

Courtney Wittekind, a 2009 Mason High School graduate, was recognized at the board’s Tuesday meeting.

The 2013 Carnegie Mellon graduate is one of 32 Americans and 80 people worldwide to win the prestigious scholarships, announced in November.

The program covers the full cost of attending the Oxford University in England for two to four years.  Wittekind, 23, plans to pursue a doctorate degree in anthropology, with a geographical focus on Burma, also called Myanmar.

“Rhodes really stood out to me for its goal of funding scholars who will fight ‘the world’s fight,” said Wittekind. “That was a concept that really struck a chord with me and continues to parallel my own vision for the work I hope to do in the future.”

Wittekind said she was inspired to study the conflict-plagued region after she arranged to graduate early and then traveled to Thailand for nine months, where she volunteered at a school serving Burmese refugees and migrants.

Wittekind is currently interning with the Brookings Institution, a Washington D.C.-based think tank.  She’ll begin her studies at Oxford in the fall of 2014.

She is the daughter of Tom and Jill Wittekind of Mason.

Mike Dyer reports:

Mason junior pitcher/first baseman Rodney Hutchison verbally committed to North Carolina on Sunday morning, according to Mason coach Curt Bly.

Hutchison, one of the state’s top players in the 2015 class, also had offers from UC, Miami University, Ohio State and Kent State.

“Rodney is a big, physical prospect with a high ceiling,” said Chris Valentine, director of Ohio scouting for Prep Baseball Report.

“While he has shown the ability to swing the bat, most schools have viewed him as a pitcher at the next level. Over the past year, he has been a mid to high 80s (miles per hour) type arm, but given his frame and arm action, he could easily be a low 90s by the time he reaches UNC.”

Hutchison, who was second-team all-Greater Miami Conference last season, hit .359 with five doubles, four home runs, 38 RBI and two stolen bases for the Comets (26-1) last season. He was 3-0 with 26 strikeouts and 1.00 ERA last season on the mound as primarily a weekend starter last season as Mason had three top senior pitchers to open the season.

“Obviously Rodney had many terrific opportunities and schools and programs to choose from,” Bly said. “He really weighed everything. I think North Carolina’s tradition and where they are as a program was really attractive for Rodney. I think UNC was too strong of a pull for him to say no to.”

Warren County’s alternative school has been renamed after its founder, John Lazares, superintendent of the Warren County Educational Service Center. Provided photo

Fifteen years after Warren County’s alternative school opened its doors, it has a new name.

The school was recently renamed the John K. Lazares Warren County Alternative School, after its founder.

The gesture comes in the final months of Lazares’ tenure as superintendent of the Warren County Educational Service Center, sponsor of the alternative school.

“I had no idea this was coming,’’ said Lazares, 64, a former superintendent of the Kings Local Schools. “I was shocked. They really got me good; I didn’t expect this.”

Lazares’ contract with the ESC board expires at the end of June 2014. He said he wants to leave the ESC by the end of his contract, but he hasn’t set a definitive date to leave yet. Assistant Superintendent Tom Isaacs will replace Lazares as superintendent.

Isaac and others say it is like Lazares to not set a date in order to deflect attention away from him. It’s one of the reasons the decision was made to rename the school after him now, instead of later.

Lazares agreed he would have kyboshed any plans for a party or recognition.

“I didn’t want any parties, I just wanted to leave, to sneak out,” Lazares said. “It was very flattering; I was very humbled.”

The unveiling of the name came just a few weeks ago when the alternative school traditionally gathers with supporters – Warren County commissioners, juvenile court officials, prosecutors, students and staff – for a lunch.

“Hundreds of high school students have finished high school and graduated because of John Lazares,’’ Isaacs said.

“He is creative, innovative and always focused on helping children. I view him professionally and personally as the role model every school leader should follow.’’

Since the alternative school opened in 1998 about 1,500 students have been enrolled.

“It benefits every one of our existing school districts to decrease the dropout rate and better serve unruly kids that disrupt classrooms,’’ said Warren County Commissioner Pat South, who was also a commissioner on the board that allocated money toward its construction.

“Placing students in the alternative school gives them more one-on-one (instruction) that allows them to succeed. It has made a dramatic improvement in the dropout rate…in the lives of some of the graduates who never would have graduated without it.”

South said the testimony given by students each year is emotional, compelling and proves over and over again why the school is a success.

She said she is glad the school now bears Lazares’ name despite his wishes to the contrary.

“John still hasn’t forgiven us for naming it after someone alive. He knows it came from the heart, but he still hasn’t forgiven us,” South said.

“I don’t think he had any clue it was going to be named after him. Very rarely does he accept accolades himself. He’s the one who always makes sure other people get recognized.”

Warren County Commissioner Dave Young holds up the cocktail napkin on which he drew rough plans for the loop ramp project at the Fields Ertel/Mason-Montgomery interchange off I-71 seven years ago. Area officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project on Dec. 17, 2013. Construction is expected to begin in March 2014 and complete in 2015. The Enquirer/Rachel Richardson

An idea originally sketched on a cocktail napkin to reduce daily traffic jams at the Fields Ertel/Mason-Montgomery interchange off Interstate 71 broke ground Tuesday.

State, regional and local officials gathered at the busy interchange to kick off construction of a “loop ramp” project expected to reduce traffic flow in the area by as much as 50 percent.

The plan, drawn seven years ago over lunch by Warren County Commissioner Dave Young, will add an exit-only lane from northbound I-71 that will circle through a Metro park-and-ride at the northeast corner of Mason-Montgomery and Fields Ertel.

Traffic from the new loop ramp will flow directly onto Mason-Montgomery Road, allowing motorists heading north to bypass Fields Ertel completely, explained Joe Vogel, a planning and engineering administrator with the Ohio Department of Transportation’s District 08 in Lebanon.

The $12 million project is the centerpiece of several planned improvements to the traffic-clogged interchange, which has long been a source of frustration for residents and commuters.

“We think it’s the piece that will have the most positive impact,” said Vogel.  “By taking traffic out of that very congested intersection and allowing people to make that shortcut should help tremendously.  It will still be congested, but it will function a lot better.”

About 80,000 vehicles travel through the intersection each day, with about half of those motorists headed north on Mason-Montgomery Road, said Young.

The loop ramp represents Warren County’s “single most important infrastructure improvement” and ranks among the top five most important transportation projects in Greater Cincinnati, he said.

The area is a key economic engine for Warren County. Within miles of the interchange are, among others: Procter & Gamble’s Mason Business Center, Deerfield Towne Center shopping center, Kings Automall and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Mason campus.

Several projects have already been completed: A $1.6 million project built an additional northbound lane from Fields Ertel to Parkway Drive and a $1.4 million project coordinated 22 traffic signals in the area.

In November, crews completed work on a $1.4 million project that added an additional right turn lane from southbound I-71 onto Mason-Montgomery Road.

State, regional and local officials break ground on the loop ramp project at the Fields Ertel/Mason-Montgomery Road interchange off I-71 on Dec. 17, 2013. The Enquirer/Rachel Richardson

Wrapping up next fall is a $2 million project to expand the exit lane at the northbound Fields Ertel/Mason-Montgomery exit to allow vehicles to exit I-71 and move onto an expanded off ramp sooner.

Preliminary work on the loop ramp is expected to begin within several weeks with construction to begin in March and complete by late 2015.

Because much of the work is set to take place outside the roadway, traffic disruptions will be minimal during construction, said Vogel.

Uncorking the bottleneck has been a 20 year focus for county transportation planners.  Previously, officials delayed proposed fixes for the interchange that would have cost as much as $75 million and taken 15 years to complete, said Young.

“We’re doing it in about half the time it could take at a fraction of the cost,” he said.  “I made one campaign promise when I came to office nine years ago and that was to fix Fields Ertel.  This is the greatest day of my political life.”

Information: www.advancingfieldsertel.com; call 513-804-8033.

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Michael D. Clark reports:

More Mason and Kings students are toting their own learning technology in their school backpacks.

Both Deerfield Township school systems have expanded their BYOT (bring your own tech) programs that allow students to bring computer tablets, smartphones, laptops and other personal electronic devices to use in their class work.

It’s recognition of how “screenagers” are already wired to learn on the devices and that schools are finally catching up, education experts say. And, they say, it’s a sea-change reversal from years when schools banned such devices.

“Many students already use digital devices on a daily basis in their personal lives for exploring interests, self-directed learning, entertainment and communicating with others,” says Anika Anthony, assistant professor at Ohio State University’s College of Education and Human Ecology Department of Educational Studies. “BYOT is an opportunity to allow students to use personal devices in a school setting and learn more about how such tools can support their academic learning.”

School systems across America deviate widely in what electronic devices they use and how. But the sweeping numbers of teenagers embracing personal electronic devices is fueling the BYOT trend.

According to a Pew Research Center study, 23 percent of American teens have a tablet computer like Apple’s iPad or Amazon’s Kindle, 47 percent have smartphones (up from 23 percent in 2011) and 78 percent have cellphones.

Mrudu Datla works with her iPad at home with her father, Srini Datla. The Mason High School sophomore uses it and other new tech devises more then paper books and note pads. The Enquirer/ Tony Jones

Schools will still offer computer labs and other district-supplied learning technology for students whose families may not be able to afford hundreds of dollars for a smartphone or computer tablet.

Amy Spicher, associate superintendent for Mason Schools, says “technology is no substitute for an inspiring teacher. But, we believe that students should be able to use the device that works for them in order to help think deeply about complex issues, to evaluate sources of information, to persist when work is hard, and to confidently communicate the rationale behind their answers.”

“Bring your own tech helps enrich learning because students need productivity tools that work for them, and that help them collaborate, write, read, communicate, and organize their assignments. A student’s life is not much different from today’s employees, and they need similar tools,” says Spicher.

At nearby Kings Schools the district has also expanded its BYOT program, says Kings Assistant Superintendent Tina Blair, to all school buildings this school year.

“We spent the summer upgrading and expanding our wireless infrastructure to ensure maximum coverage for all students. The district has updated its acceptable use policy to include the use of these technologies allowing the teachers to use their discretion when allowing the students to use in the classroom. The addition of BYOT has given students greater access to technology for instructional and research purposes,” says Blair.

Mason Schools ran a test program with 200 students using their own tech last school year that proved so successful the district is now scrambling to install expanded wireless access for all students at its middle and high school buildings.

In Butler County, Fairfield City Schools are rapidly expanding their buildings’ wireless capabilities, while nearby Lakota Local Schools loosened its policy last school year and now seeks a new tax levy in part to pay for wireless and other tech upgrades.

This school year, Mason High parent Yasmeen Allen’s son Benjamin, a sophomore, has been taking his iPad and iPhone to school for the first time for both learning and personal communications. “They might as well get used to it now, because you don’t want them to be disadvantaged for not being tech savvy,” she says.

Students say they like the easy accessibility of research on personal devices they are comfortable using. Mason sophomore Mrudu Datla says, “It’s not that new to us because we grew up with technology.”

For students, technology an expectation, not a luxury

Things are changing in other districts, though, in no small part because the adults in charge are finally learning how useful electronic devices can be in classroom learning.

“Tech is not a luxury among kids, it’s expected by them,” says Karen Mantia, superintendent of Lakota Schools, which is pushing hard to incorporate more tech-based learning.

Matthew Kollsted, a sixth-grade science teacher at Fairfield City Schools, likes having tech options for his students. “We don’t use it on daily basis, but it’s great for them to use for research or projects we do in and out of the classroom,” he says.

Benjamin Allen says some of his teachers already allowed him to use his iPad for assignments. “I used it last school year in my history and language arts classes because I could download my books,” he says. “And for a research project it’s a big advantage because you don’t have to go to the school computer lab. You can just look it up on your phone.”

Changing BYOT policies means little to families who can’t afford such devices. That worries OSU’s Anthony, who researches and teaches courses at Ohio State in “technology integration and instructional change.” “Students who do not bring a personal device to school may feel excluded during learning activities that require the use of such devices,” she says.

Mrudu’s mother, Shailaja Datla, mentions other concerns, like putting the responsibility on teens to keep the devices safe from damage or theft.

“Recently,” Datla says, “my daughter dropped her iPad in the sink. It can be expensive, but it’s the future.”

A Warren County grand jury Friday indicted a man police say robbed an elderly woman.

Zachary Davidson faces charges of robbery, a second-degree felony, and two fifth-degree felony counts of theft from an elderly person in the Nov. 8 incident.

Davidson, 23, of Lockland, allegedly crouched between cars in the parking lot of the Deerfield Towne Center and then approached a 79-year-old woman and threatened to hurt her unless she gave him her purse and jewelry.

The victim handed over her purse and wedding ring to Davidson, say Warren County Sheriff’s officials.

Davidson faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted on the charges.  He’s being held at the Warren County Jail.

Dr. Atiq Durrani

Lisa Bernard-Kuhn reports:

A Mason spine surgeon facing federal health care fraud charges has fled the country, federal officials confirmed Friday afternoon.

The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Ohio was alerted Friday that Dr. Atiq Durrani – who is accused of fraudulently billing Medicare millions of dollars for unnecessary surgeries – was no longer in the country, said Fred Alverson, a spokesman for the office.

Durrani was arrested by federal agents at his Center for Advanced Spine Technologies on Reading Road in July, and charged with one count of health care fraud and one count of making false statements in health care matters. At the time he surrendered his passport, and terms of his bond stipulated that he remain in the Greater Cincinnati area.

In August, Durrani filed a request with federal courts to leave the U.S. to visit Pakistan to see his terminally ill father, according to court papers.

The court declined the request in September.

In the filing, Durrani’s attorney Glenn Whitaker said that his client was not a flight risk. Whitaker could not immediately be reached for comment.

Durrani is scheduled for trial in August of next year.

“We’re trying to figure out the best course forward here in terms of court proceedings,” Alverson said. ”There are cases on the books now of people who have been fugitives for years – and those charges are still active.”

Alexander Coolidge reports:

The Cincinnati region’s newest gambling outlet, Miami Valley Gaming, opens at noon Thursday.

The gambling destination is the new site for Lebanon Raceway combined with 1,600 video slots – making it the region’s first racino and Ohio’s third.

The new operation means 500 new jobs for the region. The 188,000-square-foot complex also will boast four eateries: Cin City Steak and Seafood; Trifecta, a pizza, chili and hamburger restaurant; MV Perks, a coffee shop; and Acres Seasonal Buffet. Harness racing will start in February.

The racino cost $175 million to develop and build.

Starting today, it will compete with Horseshoe Casino in downtown Cincinnati and three riverboat casinos in Southeast Indiana. Miami Valley Racing officials had initially predicted their facility would rake in $125 million during their first year of operations, but have backed off that initial forecast.

Even though the new facility is the region’s fifth slots outlet, racino officials insist there is enough gambling business in the region for them to thrive.

One third of the racino’s gambling revenues are retained by the state Lottery Commission, which is turned over to state education funding.

Ohio’s racinos’ video slots are technically video lottery terminals. Like slot machines, the devices have a random number generator, but each is connected to a central computer system subject to regulatory supervision by the lottery commission.

The opening of Miami Valley means more competition in the gambling sector. The addition of the racino’s slots raises the total number of slots in the Greater Cincinnati gambling market by 23 percent to more than 8,500 .

More competition is on the way: River Downs is holding a press conference on Wednesday for its own slots operation under construction in Anderson Township. That facility is expected to open by next summer with 1,600 slots.

Penn National Gaming Inc. – the parent company of the Hollywood Casinos in Lawrenceburg, Columbus and Toledo – also plans to open two racinos next year in Dayton and suburban Youngstown. Each of those racinos will open with 1,000 slots.

A racino at Northfield Park outside Cleveland is expected to open later this month.

Two racinos already are open: Scioto Downs in Columbus was first in June 2012; ThistleDown in Cleveland opened in April.

A 2011 study commissioned by Gov. John Kasich forecast that Miami Valley would generate $144 million annually, once it was fully operating with all 2,500 slot machines authorized by Ohio law.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association will bring two national championships to Mason, the Warren County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau announced Wednesday.

The tourism board will host the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships in 2014 and the NCAA Division III Tennis National Championships in 2015.

The bureau is the only organization in southwest Ohio to be selected as a host, said Phillip Smith, president and chief executive officer of the tourism bureau.

“Anything like this is highly competitive.  We’re thrilled to have received these two,” he said.

Bidding for 82 of 89 NCAA championships began in July with almost 2,000 bid applications submitted.

Sports committees in each division selected host sites that would provide the best experience for its programs, said Mark Lewis, NCAA executive vice president of championships and alliances.

“The process was extremely thorough and allowed the sport committees to have some tremendous options, which will ultimately provide our student-athletes, coaches and fans the best experience possible,” he said.

The cross country championships will be held next fall at the Golf Center at Kings Island.  The tennis championships are set for the spring of 2015 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

Wilmington College is a partnering school for both events.  Ohio Northern University is a partner for the tennis championships.

The news comes on the heels of a series of high-profile sporting events announced this year in Warren County.

In April, The Beach Waterpark in Mason signed a three-year contract with the National Volleyball League to host its Midwest Championships and Junior Festival.

For the first time since 2009, the Association of Volleyball Professionals made a stop at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason over Labor Day weekend.

And last month, Ultimate Frisbee announced it will host the 2014 Division I Ultimate Frisbee College Championships May 23-26 at Mason’s Heritage Oak Park.

Sports tourism in Warren County — branded “Ohio’s Largest Playground” — generates about $35 million in economic impact, said Smith.  The spending includes an estimated 53,000 hotel room nights.

The county’s selection as a host site for the NCAA championships caps off a record year for the board’s sports marketing division, he said.

“It says that on a national scale and level, we’re looked upon as a great place to have these kinds of events,” said Smith.  “We look forward to leveraging our world-class facilities to make Mason a championship city and to featuring Warren County on a national stage.”

The Joe Barr American Legion post in Mason donated $500 to the Mason Food Pantry and the city of Mason’s Hope for the Holidays assistance program on Dec. 9, 2013. From left: Gina Brown, Pattie Connor, Jerry Behymer. Provided

The Joe Barr American Legion Post 194 in Mason donated $500 this week to benefit needy families this holiday season.

Jerry Behymer made the donation Monday on behalf of the post to the city’s Hope for the Holidays program.

The program, coordinated by Mason city employees in partnership with the Mason Food Pantry, provides food assistance and gift donations for struggling Mason families.

Cash and gift card donations are still needed.  To donate, call 513-229-8507 or email hopefortheholidays@masonoh.org.

Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at the Mason Food Pantry at 406 Fourth Ave., Mason.  Cash donations are accepted online at www.masonfoodpantry.org.

The December-January Our Town is available online.  Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find in this edition:

• Mason Twisters show high degree of dedication at very young age
• Brian Manor’s brick masterpiece is a labor of love
• More Mason, Kings “screenagers” bring their own tech tools to school
• The Lego Man Cometh
• Coaster biz gives local firms a thrill
• Mason family helps furnish homes of battered women

Read online here or catch up on past issues.

Helping a loved one with an alcohol or drug addiction issue is the focus of tonight’s Lindner Center of HOPE’s “Evening with the Experts” educational series.

Sherry Knapp-Brown, a psychologist at the Mason mental health center, will speak on the effects of drug and alcohol abuse and how to approach a loved one about seeking treatment.  Questions from the audience will be taken at the event’s conclusion.

The free one-hour seminar begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Mason Community Center, 6050 Mason-Montgomery Road.  Childcare is available for a fee.

The presentation is the fifth in a series offered by the Lindner Center of HOPE in partnership with the city of Mason.

The series, held on the second Wednesday of each month, continues through August.

Information: 513-229-8555; lindnercenterofhope.org/experts

Warren County residents who own dogs have until Jan. 31 to purchase a 2014 license without facing a penalty fee.

New or renewal licenses cost $15 each or $75 for a kennel license.  Special bone tags are available for $20, with $5 of that benefiting the Warren County Humane Association.

Tags can be purchased online at www.co.warren.oh.us/auditor or at a number of businesses across the county.  In Mason, tags can be purchased at the Mason Family Pet Hospital at 771 Reading Road; the Mason Animal Hospital at 770 Reading Road or the Misty Vistas Pet Hospital at 5250 Courseview Drive.

All dogs aged three months or older are required by law to have a tag.

Beginning Feb. 1, a $15 late fee will be assessed for any renewal registrations.

A list of the locations throughout the county where dog tags can be purchased is available at www.co.warren.oh.us/auditor.

For more information, call the licensing department of the auditor’s office at 513-695-1240.

By Mark Schmetzer, Enquirer contributor

The Mason Comets went into Tuesday night’s Greater Miami Conference opener against Lakota East leading the “others” receiving votes in the Enquirer’s Division I coaches’ poll, two votes behind No. 10 Withrow.

If Mason keeps playing as well as it did against the No. 3 Thunderhawks, it soon will have a number to the left of its name.

Senior Adam Thomas scored 13 points and junior Cameron Arminio tied his career high with 12, according to the Greater Miami Conference website, as the Comets built an 18-point lead and fended off a Lakota East comeback for a 60-51 win at Mason.

“We haven’t gotten a lot of hype,” Thomas said. “I think we were picked to finish like eighth in our league. Our goal is to make a statement every night.”

“We have a lot of guys in their first year on varsity, and they’re trying to make a statement,” said Mason coach Greg Richards, who logged his 250th career win.

Junior guard Mitchell Mays led three Thunderhawks in double figures with 20 points, but they couldn’t overcome Mason’s 32-21 rebounding advantage.

“There’s a little more to it than that, but you could see we had opportunities in the second half to get close, but we couldn’t get the rebound,” Lakota East coach Wally Vickers said. “It’s a concern. It has been an issue. It’s something we work on in practice, but sometime, players question the validity of what you’re saying until you have a game like this.”

Mason led 14-6 with 1:02 left in the first quarter.

Thomas’s bucket with 11 seconds before halftime allowed the Comets to take a 34-19 lead into the locker room, their largest lead of the half. Thomas, who scored just seven points in Mason’s 67-45 season-opening win over Lebanon, finished the half with 12 points.

Arminio sank a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to give Mason its largest lead, 37-19, before Mays sank two 3-pointers in the first three minutes of the third quarter to help Lakota East cut Mason’s lead to five points, 39-34, with 1:55 left in the quarter.

The Thunderhawks could get no closer.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Thomas’s 6-foot floater from the right baseline that slipped through the net at the buzzer to give Mason a 16-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Comets took possession with 33.8 seconds left and worked the clock down before Thomas drove from the top of the key to the spot from which he launched his shot.

“That play was indicative of the night,” Vickers said.

STAR OF THE GAME: Arminio, who went 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in the final 43.2 seconds to help Mason seal the win.

VIEW FROM THE SIDELINE: Richards on his 250th career win: “It just means I’ve been doing this a long time. It means I’m old. We’ve had some pretty good players go through here and some great coaches. I think we’ve been doing it the right way.” ⬛

EXTRA POINTS: Both teams stay in GMC play with their next games. Lakota East plays Sycamore on Friday, while Mason travels to Oak Hills. … The Thunderhawks and Comets are scheduled for a rematch at Lakota East on January 24.

Lakota East (2-1) – Bah 1 3 5, Emrick 0 2 2, Norris 1 0 2, Mays 7 2 20, Lowry 4 4 12, White 4 2 10. Totals: 17 13 51.

Mason (2-0) – Thomas 6 1 13, Rice 1 2 4, Lamotte 1 1 3, King 2 3 9, Orlando 3 0 7, Beebe 2 0 4, Arminio 3 5 12, Hutchison 2 0 4, Cline 2 0 4. Totals: 22 12 60.

Halftime: Mason, 34-19. 3-pointers: L 4 (Mays 4), M 4 (King 2, Orlando, Arminio).

Mason players celebrate Jack Clark’s goal against Mentor during the second half of the division I soccer state finals Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. Mason beat Mentor 1-0. (Jay LaPrete/For the Enquirer)

Mason High School’s sports programs had one clear message for rivals this past season:  Watch out.

The Comets dominated sports headlines in the fall, finishing the calendar year with three team state championships and one narrow second-place state championship finish

That’s not all.  The Comets also celebrated several strong top ten state finishes and saw a former football star drafted in the National Football League.

Here’s a round-up of the season:

(Jay LaPrete/For the Enquirer)

BOYS’ SOCCER

The Mason boys’ soccer team was crowned Ohio Division I boys state soccer champions in November, completing an undefeated (22-0-1) season with a 1-0 victory over Mentor that had come in undefeated as well (now 18-1-4).

Senior Jack Clark– who came into the game with 30 goals for the season (and 72 in his high school career) – made his 31st the game-winner.

But many players had a hand in the victory – especially the seniors, seven of whom have played together since they were 8 year olds on the Mason Fury select team. They all started this year for Mason.

Mason is the first southwest Ohio boy’s team to win a Division I state championship since Turpin took home the title in 1986 and the first GMC team to ever win at state, school officials say.

“It’s unbelievable how many coaches wished me good luck and said, ‘Hey, bring a state title back to Cincinnati,’’’ Mason coach Paul Reedy said. ‘‘That’s a special feeling when you feel like you’re representing more than just your school, but your city as well.’’

GIRLS’ SOCCER

It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Comets — but somebody forgot to tell the players.

The team finished runner-up in the Division I girls’ state soccer championship in November.

It was Mason’s second straight loss in the state final.  They fell 2-0 to Walsh Jesuit, which has now won seven state girls soccer championships since 2000.

‘‘We didn’t play our best game,’’ said Mason junior Jill Vetere, who scored the game-winner against Ursula in the regional championship. ‘‘Everything happens for a reason. Our freshmen, sophomores and juniors will build on what our seniors led us to.’’

The Mason High School Comets pose for a photo as they celebrate their state title in girls’ water polo.

GIRLS’ WATER POLO

The Mason girls’ water polo team won the program’s first state title in October with an 11-7 win over Sycamore.

Mason had nine seniors on the squad and that group was a solid foundation for the program the past few years, said coach Mark Sullivan.

“It was just a great overall team win,” said Sullivan, who started the program in the 2003-04 school year. “We knew Sycamore would give us a battle.”

Mason (33-7) jumped up two goals and then Sycamore tied. Mason went up by four in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.

“Obviously it was an unbelievable win,” Sullivan said. “It’s pretty special. … It’s great for the school.”

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY

Mason, the No. 1 team in the Enquirer’s Division I coaches’ poll and No. 3 team in the statewide coaches’ rankings, clinched its second consecutive state championship in November.

The Comets had a 16-point lead over runner-up Beavercreek, the state’s fourth-ranked team, through each team’s first four finishers before senior Kinsey McBeath finished 20 places and 15 points ahead of the Beavers’ fifth-place finisher.

“This has been a challenging year,” said Comets coach Chip Dobson. We’ve had a lot of girls step up and fill holes this year. “We knew it had to be a team effort, and nobody wanted to just along for the ride.”

GIRLS’ TENNIS

The Mason girls’ tennis team finished third at the Division I state team tournament in October.

The Comets (21-1), which finished No. 1 in the Division I state coaches’ poll, defeated Toledo Notre Dame 3-0 in the third place match. Mason lost the opening match 3-0 to Upper Arlington.

The team included freshman Lizzy Kong (No. 1 singles), senior Nina Cepeda and sister, freshman Isabel Cepeda (No. 1 doubles) and seniors Radhika Pandit and Haley Hopkins (No. 2 doubles).

“It was the best (the program has) ever done,” Mason coach Mike Reid said. “A great season.”

Mason graduate Josh Kline at practice with the New England Patriots. Courtesy of the New England Patriots/David Silverman photo

• For the seventh consecutive year, the Mason boys’ cross country team finished in the top 10 in the state championships in November.  The Comets broke a tie with sixth place Twinsburg to finish the season in fifth place statewide.
• The Mason girls’ golf team finished in fifth place in the Division I state golf tournament held in November.  Senior Quinn Atkinson led Mason and finished 20th overall with scores of 81 and 78.  Other Mason scores: Miranda Dubler (25) 80-83, Katie Tomassoni (34) 82-85, Morgan Schaffer (35) 86-83, and Hannah Bennie (35) 84-85.
• Mason graduate Josh Kline is “one injury away from being in the starting lineup” for the New England Patriots, reports Mike Reiss with ESPN.  In November, the sports network featured an interview with the 2008 Mason graduate, who was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent in May.  The 6-foot-3-inch, 295 pound offensive lineman was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-player roster in September.  He’s the first Mason graduate to play in the National Football League.